Flexible starter bar for continuouscasting mold



sheet @f2 June 24, 1969 H. s ORR FLEXIBLE STARTER BAR FOR CONTINUOUSCASTING MOLD Filed April 25, 1967 H. s. ORR 3,451,466

FLEXIBLE` STARTER BAR FOR CONTINUOUS-'CASTING MOLD June 24, 1969 Sheel Filed April 25 1967 I'NVENTOR y HWARD 5. ORI-7 5y M ,fww

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A Harney United States Patent O 3,451,466 FLEXIBLE STARTER BAR FOR CONTINUOUS- CASTING MOLD Howard S. Grr, Upper St. Clair Township, Allegheny County, Pa., assignor to United States Steel Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 25, 1967, Ser. No. 633,464 Int. Cl. B22d 11/08 U.S. 'CL 164--274 5 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A starter bar composed of flexible fabricated sections hinged together. Each section is made up of top and bottom plates spaced apart by a plurality of lengths of sheet-piling section or rectangular-section tubing disposed transversely, joined together and secured loosely to the plates which are themselves discontinuous. Terminal blocks secured to the ends of the plates are adapted to receive hinge pins joining adjacent sections,

This invention relates to a flexible starter bar for use in continuous casting and, in particular, to a bar adapted for cooperation with a slab-casting tnold.

Background of the invention In continuous casting of slabs, it is customary to bend the columnar casting descending from the mold into a curved path so it may eventually be delivered horizontally. If a rigid starter bar be employed, it must be disconnected from the casting within a very short time interval so the bar may continue vertical descent while the casting is bent to the necessary curve. To avoid the ditliculties inherent in the above practice, it has been proposed t0 use a flexible or jointed starter bar.

Examples of a flexible starter bar are shown in U.S. Patents Nos. 2,920,359 and 294,707. These bars are not well adapted for slab casting and it is the object of my invention to provide an improved starter bar for casting this type of product.

Summary of the invention In general terms, my improved starter bar comprises a plurality of sections hinged together end-to-end. Each section is an elongated flexible fabricated structure having a cross-sectional shape and size about the same as that of the casting to be formed. The structure of each section eX- tends between spaced terminal hinge-pin blocks and includes a chain of lengths of sheet-piling section or lengths of tubing of rectangular section disposed transversely and pivotally connectedl Top and bottom plates overlie these lengths and are loosely connected thereto. The plates are jointed and the portions thereof have a limited degree of articulation.

Brief description of the drawings A complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from the following detailed description and explanation which refer to the accompanying drawings illustrating the present preferred embodiment. In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic elevation with a portion in section, showing my starter bar in a continuous-casting apparatus;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of one of the sections of my starter bar with parts broken away;

FIGURE 3 shows a portion of FIGURE 2 to enlarged scale;

FIGURE 4 is a section along the plane of line IV-IV of FIGURE 3 with a portion in elevation;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-section along the plane of line V-V of FIGURE 3; and

3,451,466 Patented June 24, 1969 "ice Description of the preferred embodiment Referring now in detail to the drawings, the sections 10 of which my starter bar is composed are elongated fabricated structures having terminal blocks 11 and 12 with hinge-pin lugs 13 drilled as at 14 to receive suitable pins 16 by which a plurality of the sections may be pivotally connected end-to-end as shown in FIGURE l.

Between blocks 11 and 12 is a chain of transversely disposed lengths 15 of sheet-piling section having their edges pivotally interconnected. Filler bars 15a are welded in the grooves at the edges of the lengths 15 to reduce the slack or lost motion therebetween, without limiting freedom of pivotal movement. Gusset bars 17 extend across lengths 15 and are welded thereto.

Top and bottom plates 18 and 19 are loosely connected to lengths 15 by headed pins or rivets 20 extending through holes in the lengths which are larger than the shanks of the pins and welded into holes through the plates in which the pins iit snugly. Bearing plates 21 are disposed between the lengths 15 and plates 18 and 19. The latter are jointed as at 22 and ends of the several portions are of dovetail shape. The extreme end portions of the plates are secured to blocks 11 and 12 by bolts 23. The edges of the fabri cated structure are closed by jointed strip lengths 24.

As shown in FIGURE 1, sections 10 when coupled together end-to-end form a flexible thrust element with a mold bottom plate 25 at the upper end which may be pushed upwardly between the guide rollers 26 defining the desired curved path for the casting and the pinch rolls 28 which lcontrol the descent thereof from mold 29. That is to say, the starter bar composed of a string of sections 10, has sufficient flexibility to conform to the curvature of the path between rollers 26 but also sufficient rigidity so it will not buckle under the compressive force which must be applied from below to place the starter bar in proper position initially.

The modified form of the invention shown in FIG- URES 6-8 is generally similar to the preferred embodiment described above, except that, for the lengths 15 of sheet-piling section, I substitute lengths 30 of rectangularsection tubing. These lengths are disposed in pairs, generally transversely to the length of the section 10 but at a slight angle thereto, the lengths of each pair being inclined at opposite angles forming a herringbone or chevron pattern.

Lengths 30 are slotted inwardly from their outer ends as shown at 31 and longitudinal bars 32 fitted into these slots extend between hinge blocks 11 and 12 and are welded thereto. Filler plates 33 are fitted in the ends of the lengths and welded thereto. Top and bottom cover plates 18 and 19 overlie lengths 30 and extend between blocks 1,1 and 12. They are loosely Isecured to the tubing lengths by pins 20. At about the mid-point of each section 10', pins 34 extend through the top and bottom plates, bars 32 and each of the tubing lengths 30, being welded to the plates. The tubing lengths, while positioned close together, are slightly spaced by shirns 35.

Although I have disclosed herein the preferred ernbodiment of my invention, I intend to cover as well any change or modifgication therein which may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

I claim:

1. A starter bar for continuous casting composed of a plurality of sections pivotally connected end-to-end, each section comprising an elongated flexible structure including spaced terminal blocks, a series of abutting lengths of rolled section disposed transversely of said structure and pivotally interconnected extending between said 5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, characterized by blocks and top and bottom plates extending between said said lengths being of rectangular tubing. blocks and means movably securing said plates to said lengths, d f d l h d b References Cited 2. A aratus as eine in caim 1, c aracterize said plzlljts being jointed for limited articulation as per; o UNITED STATES PATENTS nwitted by Said means. 3,305,899 2/1967 Saunders.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, characterized by 3,324,934 6/1967 Hess et al. 164 274 said means including rivets welded to said plates and l ittnflmugh holes m sad mths larger than the 10 J. SPENCER, oVERHoLsER, Primary Examiner,

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, characterized by J. S. BROWN, AssistantExaminer. said lengths being of sheet-piling section. 

